by Taurai Mazwi
Government has introduced and adopted the philosophy of “heritage based education” as the anchor of innovation and as a way of promoting agriculture for industrialisation.
This was said by Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Amon Murwira on Friday at the University of Zimbabwe where the First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa was interfacing with female students from tertiary institutions.
Minister Murwira highlighted on the importance of heritage based education as it helps students to appreciate and embrace traditional grains as a bold way to boost the consumption of these cereals for food security and economic growth.
“In our new education design pipeline, we have also introduced and adopted the philosophy of heritage as the anchor of our innovation to deliver relevant goods and services. In this regard, we are saying any new idea is useless unless it solves a real problem.
“For example, Agriculture in Zimbabwe has since 1898 diverted from the heritage philosophy when we started to grow crops that are not ecologically suited to Zimbabwe, explaining most of the food deficit problems we have. This is why in the 2nd Republic, Traditional grains (mhunga, mapfunde and rukweza) are being emphasized. Our traditional grains are not small grains. They are big grains. They are the Future of Africa,” he said.
Minister Murwira went on to announce the programmes universities have started embarking on in line with heritage based education and urged students to embrace it.
“As a way to promote heritage based science for industrialisation, UZ has started the Future Grains for Africa programme to develop novel products (food, feed, non-food products) from Rukweza, Mhunga and Mapfunde (the future grains of Africa) as a bold way to boost the consumption of these cereals for food security and economic growth.
“MSU has embarked on a research programme on the value of indigenous trees and herbs in pharmaceuticals and other products. The Government of Zimbabwe is funding these initiatives.
“I urge all students to fully embrace heritage based education 5.0. It is a complete transformation of mission which gives emphasis on doing and not just talking. Remember production of goods and services can only happen when there is both knowledge and skill. Skills development has therefore become one of our main focus areas as a nation,” he said.
Presenting at the same event, Television show host of the ‘Amai Chisamba Show’, Rebecca Chisamba encouraged the students to embrace their culture as it will take them far in life and encouraged them to be entrepreneurial. She also explained how the First lady had helped her show to succeed long before she became the first lady.
Government is advocating for growing of traditional grains so as to mitigate climate change. Government last year started distributing traditional grain seed so as to avert the effects of climate change and improving food security.
The First Lady has launched the Zunde Ramambokadzi, Isiphala Samakhosikazi programme across all provinces with the main focus being on traditional grain which is an important staple food crop in semi-arid regions.
